A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery linking black hole growth to galaxy evolution. The study found that more than 20,000 galaxies contain growing black holes, mostly in massive galaxies with recent star formation. As the rate of black hole growth increases, so does the amount of recent star formation.
A new study suggests that black holes can form before galaxies, with massive black holes found in even the smallest active galaxies. The research, led by Marianne Vestergaard at Ohio State University, uses a method to estimate the mass of distant black holes and finds that they are often more massive than previously thought.
Researchers at Ohio University have discovered a massive X-ray disk in an elliptical galaxy, revealing complex dynamics and challenging previous assumptions about galaxy formation. The giant disk is 90,000 light years wide and spinning through the galaxy, suggesting that elliptical galaxies may not be as simple as previously thought.
Scientists using Whipple Observatory gamma-ray telescope discover energetic gamma-ray flares from active galaxies, revealing relativistic jets and compact emission regions. The study also holds promise to reveal nature of 'dark matter' and 'dark energy', which dominate universe's mass budget.
Astronomers have found evidence for dark dwarf galaxies that support the theory of cold dark matter. The study analyzed gravitational lensing effects on distant galaxies, revealing the presence of hundreds of invisible dwarf galaxies surrounding large galaxies.
The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) will study blue compact dwarf galaxies, which are deficient in heavy elements and contain as little as 2 percent of the solar system's share. The telescope will provide detailed physical information about distant targets using its infrared spectrograph instrument.
Researchers have discovered a new class of objects in two nearby galaxies, NGC 1023 and NGC 3384. These 'faint fuzzies' are thought to be about the same age as globular clusters but look and act differently, with sizes ranging from 50 to 100 light-years across.
The DEIMOS instrument will multiply the power of current Keck spectroscopy by a factor of seven, enabling observations of distant galaxies and shedding light on the formation and evolution of galaxies. With its massive detector and advanced optics, DEIMOS will create the most comprehensive map of the distant universe ever attempted.
Researchers used data from thousands of galaxies to assess theories of star formation and stellar population dynamics. The cosmic spectrum shows a predominantly greenish hue due to the large numbers of old red stars and young blue stars in the universe.
Astronomers estimate masses of distant black holes using a new method developed by Marianne Vestergaard, allowing for more accurate understanding of quasar behavior. The study challenges previous theories suggesting a threshold mass above which black holes cause quasars to become radio-loud.
A team of astronomers led by UMass' Daniel H. McIntosh found evidence of galaxies transforming in response to their environment. They observed three massive galaxy clusters and discovered a link between a galaxy's surroundings and its evolution, with blue galaxies forming stars while reddish galaxies have few stars.
Researchers combined infrared images with Hubble data to study ancient galaxies, including those similar to the Milky Way. The team identified over 100 billion stars in some galaxies, offering insights into their age, distance, and formation.
Astronomers have shed new light on dark matter distribution by tracing it closely to galaxy patterns. They found that dark matter is distributed in a parallel pattern to galaxies and makes up about seven times more mass than ordinary matter.
A team of scientists discovered a small, faint galaxy at 13.4 billion light-years using the Hubble Space Telescope and Keck Telescopes. The galaxy, with a mass of just a few million times that of our Sun, is thought to be one of the earliest building blocks of galaxies.
Astronomers have observed a web-like structure in space using NASA's FUSE satellite, confirming theoretical models of how matter condensed into galaxies. The helium traces the universe's architecture back to very early times, shedding light on its re-energization by quasars and star birth.
Astronomers studied 37 nearby galaxies using Hubble Space Telescope images in ultraviolet light, finding that faraway galaxies may not be inherently odd-shaped. The survey suggests that astronomers are detecting the 'tip of the iceberg' of very distant galaxies, and that their shapes may be influenced by incomplete observations.
Astronomers have captured the clearest view of a galaxy pipeline, where material flows between two compact galaxies after a collision. The pipeline, stretching 20,000 light-years, is believed to contribute to a lack of star birth in NGC 1409, as gas flows in is too hot to form stars.
Yale astronomers have discovered that the area around the Milky Way contains remains of small galaxies torn apart by gravity, contradicting previous smooth distribution theories. The study found approximately 150 RR Lyrae variables with proper periods and light variations in a previously surveyed region.
New analysis of astronomical data suggests that galaxies with rapid rates of star formation are linked to active supermassive black holes. The study found evidence that starbursts, regions of frequent and rapid star formation, may be obscuring the central black holes' emissions in some Seyfert galaxies.
Astronomers use NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to study the growth of Perseus A, a supergiant galaxy at the center of a large galaxy cluster. The research reveals that Perseus A has accumulated hundreds of billions of stars by cannibalizing gas and smaller galaxies in the vicinity.
Researchers have produced complete maps of CO emission in IC 10, a nearby dwarf irregular galaxy. This observation may offer insights into the formation of stars in the early universe. The team discovered that molecular gas generally lies near dense atomic hydrogen and young, recently formed stars.
An Australian-led team has captured the first picture of the sky in which the Milky Way no longer blocks our view of the Universe beyond. The new survey, HIPASS, used CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope to detect large numbers of small and faint galaxies, as well as giant clouds of gas that give off no light.
Astronomers used Chandra to survey the Hubble Deep Field North, detecting six galaxies that defy expectations with their high rate of star formation and giant black holes. The discovery indicates that only 15% of submillimeter sources can be luminous X-ray sources.
Astronomer Alberto Conti and colleagues have developed a new technique to analyze massive galaxy data using computer analysis. By combining theoretical analysis with statistical techniques, they aim to uncover the most important attributes of galaxies that can be observed.
A team of astronomers led by University of Michigan professor Douglas Richstone discovered three new supermassive black holes in nearby elliptical galaxies. The formation and evolution of galaxies are linked to the presence of massive black holes, which played a crucial role in shaping galaxy development.
Researchers used supercomputer simulations to test two competing scenarios explaining high-redshift galaxies. The collisional starburst scenario, which suggests small galaxies trigger intense bursts of star formation, received strong support from the simulation results.
Researchers compiled a catalog of 200 nearby spiral galaxies and discovered that approximately 30% contain bar-shaped bands of stars, which are more common than thought. Infrared telescopes revealed the presence of these bars, indicating that galaxies have interacted with each other in the last 10 billion years.
An Australian-led team of astronomers has discovered a significant number of stray stars, potentially altering our understanding of the universe's composition. These findings suggest that there may be as many stars living in intergalactic space as those within galaxy clusters.
University of Michigan astronomers have detected the cool infrared signature of dust grains and silicates within superheated gas in the center of ancient elliptical galaxies. The discovery could represent the first direct observation of how mass lost by aging stars evolves in a hot, exotic environment.
A team of astronomers detected a population of distant, dusty galaxies forming stars at rates 10-100 times higher than most optical sources. The discovery suggests that much of the star formation in the distant Universe may be hidden to visual observations, requiring a combination of both optical and submillimeter observations.
Astronomers have discovered bluer galaxies in nearby clusters, indicating recent star formation and a possible ongoing process. The finding revises the Butcher-Oemler effect, suggesting that some clusters may still be forming new stars.
Astronomers used an instrument to collect light from 1000 objects, discovering seven compact blue galaxies beyond 2 billion light years away
Scientists have discovered the most distant known object in the cosmos, a young galaxy existing when the universe was only 6% of its present age. The serendipitous discovery raises hopes for resolving two central questions in astrophysics: how and when did galaxies form.
Astronomers Ari Buchalter and David Helfand study 103 galaxies to draw conclusions about the universe's shape. They believe their findings can be confirmed with results from 500 galaxies.
Researchers use Hubble Space Telescope to track dense dust and gas in central regions of Seyfert galaxies, finding spiral arms that extend from the nucleus to the rest of the galaxy. This discovery suggests an alternative to stellar bar-driven fueling, requiring further theoretical modeling to fully understand the mechanism.
A team of astronomers led by Eric Neilsen discovered that a large galaxy is stripping star clusters from neighboring galaxies. The study used data from the Hubble Space Telescope to confirm that globular clusters were stripped away by M87, a giant elliptical galaxy.
Astronomers have found far more dwarf galaxies than expected in a survey of just 2% of data from the Parkes radio telescope. The discovery suggests that dwarfs may be 'crumbs' left over when bigger galaxies formed and could provide clues about the distribution of dark matter.
Researchers have discovered a powerful energy source inside the nucleus of a Seyfert galaxy, challenging previous theories and providing new insights into the formation of galaxies. The findings suggest that both types of Seyfert galaxies may harbor quasars, with the power source located behind an obscuring 'fat torus' or doughnut girdle.
Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new method called photometric-redshift astronomy, which allows for rapid distance measurements to distant galaxies. This technique resolves a long-standing dilemma in cosmology research by enabling the study of galaxy evolution and dark matter.
Astronomer Martin Gaskell suggests that many galaxies harbor pairs of giant black holes revolving around each other. His research on quasars indicates a clear trend in gas velocity changes over time, pointing to the presence of binary black holes with masses similar to 4 billion solar units.